The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed the loss of a U.S. Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker during an incident over western Iraq.
According to a brief statement released by CENTCOM, the event occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury. Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of them went down in western Iraq, while the second aircraft was able to land safely.
Search and rescue operations are currently underway as authorities attempt to locate the crew and secure the crash site.
CENTCOM stressed that the incident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, though further details about the circumstances have not yet been disclosed.
The command added that more information will be released once additional facts have been confirmed, noting that officials are working to gather details and provide clarity to the families of the service members involved.
Update (13/03/2026)
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has since confirmed that all six crew members on board the aircraft have been killed in the crash. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as efforts continue to locate the remaining two crew members.
While CENTCOM stated that the incident occurred in “friendly airspace” and was not the result of hostile or friendly fire, the group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed militia, claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft in a statement reported by Reuters. U.S. authorities have not confirmed that claim.
Editor’s note
An incorrect photograph was briefly used as the featured image when this article was first published. We apologise for the error. The image has now been replaced with the correct featured photograph.